This is dreadful stuff from Tiernan McCann. He should be ashamed of himself.
Surely no one can argue with that. Tyrone fans may see it all as ammunition for their siege mentality but there's no way you can watch that hair-fluffing and be anything but disgusted by it.
All eyes were on the Sunday Game panel last night to see what would be said about Tyrone's tactics. As expected, Colm O'Rourke in particular didn't disappoint.
It’s beginning to follow them around like a bad smell now, this cynical play. Yesterday, they brought it to new lows.
We have Conor Meyler being sent off for dragging a fella down, trying to get a person sent off. Then we have the Cavanagh show in terms of diving.
I have always felt that Tyrone may have been over criticised but here we see Ronan McNamee punching a player clearly there. Then we see Sean Cavanagh getting a slight dig from Conor McManus and falling like a sack of spuds.
Unsurprisingly, O'Rourke saved most of the criticism for the McCann incident and many people agreed with him when he suggested that it was up to the CCCC to act retrospectively and ban McCann for the semi-final. However, for all that were in agreement, there seems to be just as many (presumably Tyrone fans) who have suggested that there is a bit of pot calling the kettle black going on.
During his playing career, O'Rourke formed a key part of a Meath team that were respected and reviled in equal measure for their win at all cost attitude. Whether that includes blatant diving is up for debate but the reaction to O'Rourke's comments were certainly interesting.
I remember Colm O'Rourke's Meath being hated for their cynicism. Betcha Meath would do a lot to see some of that now. @TheSundayGame #gaa
— An Spailpín Fánach (@anspailpin) August 9, 2015
@theplathdiaries I remember Colm O'Rourke saying (circa '87), "nice guys win nothing." Tyrone happier to win games than make friends
— Shane (@ThingsShining) August 9, 2015
@thesundaygame What about 96' when Meath did what they done to Tyrone Colm o Rourke?? You afraid that Tyrone might win another all ireland?
— Colly Beggs👹 (@Beggs85) August 9, 2015
This is rich coming from Colm O'Rourke, sure Meath are angels!
— Seamus McBride (@SeamieMcBride) August 9, 2015
1996 semi-Tyrone v Meath,Dooher, Canavan& Dinky Mc Bride took out in1st half.O Rourke giving us a lecture on cynical tactics!!😡#TyroneAbu🔴⚪️
— DonnellyJ (@johnjdonnelly67) August 9, 2015
Rich from Colm O'Rourke talking about Tyrone & their play when the Meath team he was in - in the 80's were pioneers for it @thesundaygame
— Peter Doyle (@peterbelladoyle) August 9, 2015
And, so it begins... @TheSundayGame
Whelan & O' Rourke - two angelic players
Poacher turned gamekeeper selling pots & black kettles 😲— Tyrone GAA mBunscol (@Tyrone_mBunscol) August 9, 2015
Perhaps O'Rourke was being something of a hypocrite but even if he was, that really shouldn't take away from what he was saying. Tyrone will call bias against RTÉ and will continue to refuse to engage with the national broadcaster but it's clear that public opinion is not going to change their gameplan so it has to be up to the CCCC to take a stand when things such as McCann's dive raise their head.
